Adolescents who suffer from emotional problems are more at risk of struggling to get a job in the future than those who don't struggle from this issue, according to a study at the University of Stirling.

The research, carried out by scientists at the university examined the employment patterns of over 7,000 people over a 12-year period and showed conclusive results. They depicted that teenagers who feel depressed or nervous subsequently experienced higher levels of joblessness in their early adulthood.

In fact, young people who were distressed between the ages of 16 and 20 were 20 per cent more like to be unemployed and 26 per cent of this group were more likely to be unemployed in further years.

These results also showed that these feelings and the subsequent lack of employability were irrespective of socio-economic background.

Mark Egan, from the Behavioural Science Centre at the University of Stirling, said: "These findings provide strong evidence that distressed adolescents are vulnerable to unemployment and [...] this vulnerability increased during the recent difficult economic period following the Great Recession."

Mr Egan believes that by investing more in childhood and teenage mental health services the economic benefits will speak for themselves.